Page 1 of Tragic Empire

ChapterOne

Ana

Heavy rain pouring from the night sky is almost too thick to walk through. It makes the air muggy, and forces an unwelcome wave of warm liquid to cling to my skin. Earth-shaking thunder cracks from above, and lightning runs along the black horizon, shattering in sharp glowing streaks.

I can hardly hear anything over the sound of the storm, not even most of my own thoughts.Probably safer that way.

Headlights from a running car allow me to see where I’m going, my steps cautious but swift. I have to get out of the rain before I faint, or worse, before I start to cry. If I let the emotions take hold of me, I think I might drown myself in them.

Go numb,I remind myself, knowing full-well I don’t have the skills necessary to black out completely. Not after everything that I’ve just seen.

Still, I latch on to the concept and try as hard as I can.

Numb.

Numb.

Numb.

The familiar porch awning puts an abrupt stop to the rain pelting down on me, but it only muffles the sound of the storm raging on behind me. Without breathing, my fingers stretch out, reaching for the bell. It’s cold against my fingertip, the touch sending a zip of shivers down my neck.

Guards would typically have stopped me at the gate and asked for permission before waving me in. But I’ve been here so many times now that I’ve been put on the “wave through” list. I was able to pull up straight to the door, putting my vehicle in park without turning it off. Icouldn’tturn it off. I couldn’t possibly bear the thought of walking in the complete dark.

Not now.

I start to chew on my lip, feeling so utterly alone. I’m not quite sure how I’m even still standing with my knees so weak—like they could give out at any second. I avoid looking at the small window in the door where my reflection lingers like a shadow I can’t bring myself to face.

It’s hard to say how many moments pass before I reach to ring the bell again, but before I can touch it, the door creaks open. I don’t know the man at the door well, but I know enough to feel significantly safer just looking at him.

“Ana?” Anatoly asks, giving me a surprised look. “I didn’t know you were coming.” His eyes scan the storm behind me and the state of my clothes. “Come inside, you look freezing.”

Anatoly Petrov is a huge man. Like, a building of a person. Even so, he has soft, kind eyes, and I know how protective he is of Jade. As one of her best friends, his protection extends to me. It’s not as fierce, of course. But it’s reassuring either way.

Wordlessly, I step over the threshold and physically tremble as my body adjusts to the warmth of the home.

It’s then that Anatoly sees the blood on my hands.

He stiffens and reaches for his watch, hitting a button I know is meant to notify Dmitri Morozov. His boss, and my best friend’s husband. He’s the future Pakhan of the Morozov Bratva. A lethal killer, but a marshmallow of a man for Jade. Just like Anatoly, he’ll help me because of her. No matter how new our relationship is.

I’d only just begun to develop my friendship with Jade Moretti eight months ago, and we’d only been able to hang out in person five months after that. It was an instant connection and grew quickly. We’ve had sleepovers, and we text or video call every day when we can’t see each other.

Even as a new mom of twins, Jade continuously makes time for me. She’s a good friend and someone I can truly trust. Which is good, because she’s the only person I have to turn to right now.

“Ana, are you all right?” Anatoly asks cautiously. I open my mouth to respond, but we’re interrupted before any words can come out.

“Hey you,” Jade calls out in greeting, jogging over to us with a bright smile. She’s wearing sweats but doesn’t look tired, which means her babies are likely already asleep and she’s enjoying her time relaxing. “You’re soaking wet girl, is it raining outside or are you just happy to see me?”

All of my composure cracks.

I’m safe, I’m safe, I’m safe.

Jade is here.

A hysterical laugh bubbles from my lips, and I cup a hand over my mouth. I can taste a tinge of blood through my lips at the contact, but I don’t pull it away. The urge to contain myself is strong, but it’s impossible.

My knees give out and my body shakes as I fall toward the floor. Anatoly’s arms wrap around my middle to catch me just before I crash. Jade’s eyes widen and she reaches for me too, her face becoming blurry through unshed tears. They fill my eyes with a thick sheen that no amount of blinking can seem to clear up.

“Ana,” she soothes, trying to comfort me. “What happened? Whose blood is this?” My stomach gives an awful churn at the question.